Sergey Kovalev

Biography

Sergey Kovalev, known as "Krusher" during his boxing career, is a Russian boxer born on April 2, 1983, in Kopeysk, Russia. His journey into boxing began at the tender age of 14 when he first stepped into the amateur ring at the Junior Championship of Russia, where he impressively won first place. This early success marked the beginning of a storied amateur career, during which he accumulated an impressive record of 193 wins against 22 losses. Kovalev's amateur achievements included becoming a two-time Russian Junior champion and medaling in the adult category. He also participated in the European Championship as part of the Russian youth national team and won the World Championship among military personnel.

Kovalev transitioned to professional boxing on July 25, 2009, with a resounding first-round TKO victory over Daniel Chavez at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. This marked the start of a career spanning over 15 years, during which he would become one of his generation's most feared light heavyweight fighters. Kovalev's rise to prominence was swift, with his first major title win coming on August 17, 2013, when he defeated Nathan Cleverly for the WBO light heavyweight title on Cleverley's home soil, Wales. This victory was followed by successful defences and additional title wins, including the WBA and IBF belts, which he secured with a dominant performance against Bernard Hopkins on November 8, 2014. This unification bout cemented Kovalev's status as a top pound-for-pound fighter and earned him the Fighter of the Year award from several prominent boxing outlets.

Throughout his career, Kovalev faced some of the best fighters in the world. His battles against Andre Ward, a future Hall of Famer, were particularly notable. Despite losing both encounters, Kovalev's performances against Ward proved he belonged in the pound-for-pound discussion. Other notable bouts include his victories over Jean Pascal and Eleider Álvarez and his loss to Canelo Álvarez in a highly anticipated super fight. Kovalev's ability to knock out opponents with devastating power earned him the nickname "Krusher," his record reflects this, with 29 of his 35 wins coming by way of knockout.

As Kovalev's career progressed, he continued to face top-level opponents. His rematch against Eleider Álvarez on February 2, 2019, resulted in a unanimous decision victory, reclaiming the WBO title. However, his reign was short-lived, as he lost the title to Canelo Álvarez later that year. In recent years, Kovalev has competed in the cruiserweight division, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over Tervel Pulev on May 14, 2022. His final professional outing occurred on May 18, 2024, when he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Robin Sirwan Safar at 41. Kovalev's final professional record stands at 35-5-1, a testament to his enduring legacy in the sport.